Welcome to the special Christmas edition of the Travel Trends podcast! We are excited to bring you insights from over 15 guests who attended the Phocuswright conference who share their valuable knowledge and predictions for travel trends in 2024.

Get ready for a captivating journey as we reflect on an unforgettable season 2 of Travel Trends! Your hosts, Zach Vanasse and Dan Christian, discuss  the brightest minds in the travel industry and how they participated in the show this season. We've been lucky enough to engage with thousands of listeners from over 50 countries worldwide and are eager to continue delivering insightful experiences in the future. 

Join host Dan Christian on the Travel Trends Podcast for an engaging look into the career of Robin Yap, a highly respected figure in the travel sector with a rich history at Singapore Airlines and in leadership at The Travel Corporation and Insight Vacations. Prepare to examine the key elements of Robin's extensive understanding of the Asian market and his strong passion for languages, understand the complexities of achieving work-life harmony while embracing lifelong learning, and gain valuable insights on travel, culture, and sustainability, enriched by his recent explorations in Bhutan.

In this insightful episode of the Travel Trends Podcast, host Dan Christian welcomes John Boulding, a 40-year veteran of the travel industry, for an engaging stroll down a remarkable memory lane. Prepare to delve into the core of John's incredible journey from mobile DJ and Contiki Guide to a long-standing global executive and his current role with Vox Group, unravel the nuances of navigating a life dedicated to travel, and gain valuable perspectives on the evolution of guided tours and the impact of technology.

Discover the cutting edge of travel on the Travel Trends Podcast as host Dan Christian speaks with Marius Nigond, the visionary Founder of an innovative travel AI startup. Their conversation illuminates the transformative potential of AI in crafting unique self-guided travel experiences. Prepare to examine the key stages of Marius's journey, from his early travel experiences in Peru to his current role as a tech innovator, understand the nuances of his AI-powered platform that creates bespoke audio tours, and gain valuable perspectives on the future of travel technology and its profound impact on exploration.

In this special live episode of the Travel Trends Podcast, host Dan Christian brings you the excitement of 'Travel Trends on Tour' live from the Arival 360 conference in Orlando, Florida, featuring industry experts Mitch Bach and Lori Timony, as they explore the incredible benefits of attending Arival events and share highlights from the 2023 conference. Prepare to explore the core of groundbreaking innovations showcased at Arival, including a lively discussion on the power and potential pitfalls of AI, understand the crucial importance of human connection in our businesses and at industry events, and gain valuable perspectives on the compelling new business models and the exciting presence of startups and investors at Arival.

Discover a different approach to travel on this episode of the Travel Trends Podcast, where host Dan Christian speaks with Richard Edwards, the accomplished CMO of Untours and Managing Director of the Untours Foundation. Their conversation centers on how travel can be a deeply immersive and enriching journey for both the individual and the destination. Prepare to unpack the fundamental ideas behind the 'Untours' concept and the philosophy of slow travel, understand the subtle art of connecting with local culture, economies, and the natural world in a meaningful way, and gain valuable perspectives on the rise of 'unfluencers,' the forward-thinking approach of 'unmarketing' within the travel industry, the pressing necessity of sustainable practices in travel given the climate crisis and global pandemics, and the growing importance of supporting companies that prioritize responsible tourism.

Join host Dan Christian on the Travel Trends Podcast as he sits down with a true visionary in travel tech, Mauricio Prieto. From founding the powerhouse eDreams to curating the influential Travel Tech Essentialist newsletter, Mauricio shares his remarkable journey. Tune in to hear about his pivotal move from consulting to travel, the groundbreaking creation of eDreams in Barcelona, and how they weathered the dot-com storm to build a trusted global brand. Plus, discover the story behind his must-read newsletter, his unique content strategy, and his take on the wider travel tech ecosystem.

Join Dan Christian, host of the Travel Trends Podcast as he welcomes Craig Dodge, the esteemed Director at the Phare Circus in Cambodia, for an engaging discussion on the inspiring evolution of the Phare Circus and the dramatic changes in Cambodia's tourism industry. Prepare to explore the core of the Phare Circus's origins as a humanitarian effort offering therapy through art to Cambodian refugees and its transformation into a beacon of hope for artists, understand the nuances of navigating a global pandemic while running a nonprofit social enterprise in Cambodia, and gain valuable perspectives on the resilience of Cambodians, the silver linings of the pandemic, lesser-known gems of Siem Reap beyond Angkor Park, the rise of sustainable travel, and the importance of meaningful travel choices.

Take a listen as our host Dan Christian welcomes Samantha Hardcastle, the visionary Founder behind The Storied Experience, for an engaging discussion on the powerful role of storytelling in both travel and business. Prepare to explore the core of crafting compelling narratives by starting with the 'why' and harnessing empathy, understand the groundbreaking features of Samantha's new App, Reverie, which guides people through the storytelling process, and gain valuable perspectives on how stories bridge cultural divides, the connection between food experiences and empathy, influential travel writers, and the transformative nature of travel and its profound inspiration.

Samantha shares the importance of starting with the 'why' and harnessing empathy to create engaging tales. We highlight her new groundbreaking App, Reverie, which beautifully guides people through the storytelling process. Discover how stories have the power to bridge cultural divides and connect us on a deeper level.

In this insightful episode of the Travel Trends Podcast, host Dan Christian welcomes Charaf El Mansouri, the esteemed CEO & Founder of DHARMA, for an engaging discussion on building a successful startup while creating meaningful connections. Prepare to explore the core of Charaf's inspiring journey from Morocco through Washington and London to Abu Dhabi, understand the birth, growth, and vision of his unique platform, DHARMA, inspired by insights from Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens, and gain valuable perspectives on DHARMA's philosophy, business model, the power of storytelling and shared experiences in travel, the challenges of fundraising, the 'Why over Where' travel market, and the role of a founder in a growing startup, including managing ego and fostering personal growth.

Welcome to the world of luxury hospitality! Our host, Dan Christian sat down with Jonathan Raggett, the esteemed CEO of Red Carnation Hotels, for an engaging discussion on the world of luxury hospitality and the journey of this prestigious brand since 1995. Prepare to explore the core of Red Carnation Hotels' evolution, including the founding and instrumental roles of the Tollman family, understand the nuances of Jonathan's inspiring journey from school to the top rank at Red Carnation Hotels, and gain valuable perspectives on effective leadership, resilience, team spirit, his role as chairman of the Master Innholders Conference, and his observations on the future of hospitality and travel, including the rise in generational travel and increased length of stays post-pandemic.

‘LIVE from Vegas’ with the Travel Trends Podcast, featuring highlights from the Travel Tech Day at Virtuoso's 2023 Travel Week, with esteemed industry experts Shane O’Flaherty from Microsoft, Stuart Greif from Forbes Travel Guides, and Carlos Garcia from Trip Ventures, for an engaging discussion on how social platforms, AI, and even travel photos are shaping the future of travel. Prepare to explore the core of innovative startups and the growing synergy between technology and travel, understand the nuances of how companies like Dharma are revolutionizing travel experiences and the essential role of a strong social media strategy (including the impact of influencers like Mr Beast), and gain valuable perspectives on the future of travel through the lens of startups like Tango and Legends utilizing AI and geo-location analysis, emerging trends highlighted by startups like Lucia and Kind Traveller, the contributions of female executives, purpose-driven travel, and Deloitte's predictions for the consumer industry.  

Ready to gain valuable perspectives on Contiki’s adaption to new generations, inclusive marketing, shifts in consumer behaviour (including sustainability) and the transformative power of travel for young people? Well let us introduce you to Natasha Lawrence, the esteemed Commercial and Product Director at Contiki, for an engaging discussion on her fascinating career journey and unique perspectives on the resilience of the travel industry. Prepare to explore the core of Natasha's start in hospitality and her admiration for Red Carnation Hotels, understand the nuances of how Contiki and the Travel Corporation navigated the challenges of the pandemic through innovative strategies.

In this episode our host Dan Christian welcomes Bruce Rosard, the esteemed Co-Founder & CCO of Arival, for an engaging discussion on his remarkable life and career journey within the travel industry. Prepare to explore the core of Bruce's incredible path from a hot dog vendor at Veteran Stadium to a key leader in the tours, activities, and attractions sector, understand the nuances of his entrepreneurial ventures, including the birth and growth of his ski business, Moguls, and his pivotal roles at Phocuswright and the formation of Arival, and gain valuable perspectives on recent travel trends and the crucial role of reservation technology platforms for operators in the global travel industry.

In this insightful episode of the Travel Trends Podcast, host Dan Christian welcomes Pete Comeau, the esteemed Managing Director of Phocuswright, the world's largest travel research company, for an engaging discussion on the exciting transformations happening in travel events, media, and beyond. Prepare to explore the core of Pete's remarkable career and gain valuable insights into the broader travel industry, understand the innovative initiatives he's leading at Phocuswright to support early-stage startups, and gain valuable perspectives on Phocuswright's groundbreaking research projects, uncovering key market trends such as the power of generative AI in trip planning and the emergence of new travel destinations in a post-pandemic world.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Travel Trends Podcast! Join our host Dan Christian as he welcomes Rafat Ali, the esteemed CEO & Founder of Skift, for an engaging discussion on his riveting journey into the travel media industry and the trailblazing success of Skift. Prepare to explore the core of Rafat's personal and professional growth from a struggling graduate student to a global media entrepreneur, understand the nuances of Skift's unique voice, fresh approach to design and content, and its remote work culture emphasizing work-life balance, and gain valuable perspectives on current travel trends, the future of the industry, Skift's business models, and their global expansion plans, highlighting the inseparable link between travel and global issues.